Hey,
Mama.
If you're here because motherhood feels too much right now,
I want you to know something before we do anything else.
You don't have to fix yourself.
You don't have to become a calmer mother in the next 10 minutes.
And you certainly don't have to convince yourself that everything is fine.
We're just going to make a little more room around whatever you're experiencing right now.
So wherever you are.
Get as comfortable as you reasonably can.
You can close your eyes if that feels good.
Or you can keep them open.
You get to choose.
And if sitting still doesn't feel right.
You can move.
There is no right way to do this.
Take a moment to notice where you are.
Look around your space.
Notice a few things you can see.
Maybe the color of a wall.
A piece of furniture.
A light coming through a window.
Something that's familiar.
You don't need to analyze anything.
Just let your eyes take in your surroundings.
And notice the surface underneath you,
The chair,
The couch,
The bed.
The floor beneath your feet.
You don't need to make your body relax.
Just notice that something is holding you right now.
If taking a breath feels comfortable,
Simply notice your next breath.
You don't need to make it deep.
You don't need to make it slow.
Just notice.
I'm breathing.
And maybe you can let your shoulders soften.
By one percent.
Not all the way.
Just one percent.
Because sometimes,
When we've spent years surviving,
Being told to just relax.
Isn't particularly helpful.
Your body may not be ready to relax,
And that's okay.
We're not forcing it.
We're listening.
Now.
Notice what is happening inside you.
Maybe you're angry.
Maybe you're touched out.
Maybe you're overstimulated.
Maybe you're exhausted.
Maybe you feel like everyone.
Needs something from you,
And there is absolutely nothing left to give.
Maybe you're carrying guilt about something that happened today.
Maybe you don't even know what you're feeling.
That's okay,
Too.
You don't have to name it perfectly.
Try saying something quietly to yourself.
Something is happening inside me.
And I can be curious about it.
Not.
What's wrong with me?
Not,
Why can't I handle this?
Just something is happening inside me.
Your reaction is information.
It isn't a verdict on your motherhood.
You can be overwhelmed and still be a loving mother.
You can lose your patience and still care deeply about your child.
You can need space and still be connected.
You can have a nervous system that learned to protect you very intensely and still learn new ways of responding.
For this moment.
You don't need to solve tomorrow.
You don't need to figure out the rest of your parenting journey.
You don't need to heal your entire past.
You only need to come back to this moment.
Look around.
Feel what is underneath you.
Notice your breath.
And remind yourself.
I am here.
This moment is happening now.
I don't have to respond to everything immediately.
And if your children are asking something of you right now.
Maybe the next step isn't a perfect response.
Maybe it's simply,
Give mommy a minute.
I'm feeling overwhelmed.
I need to take a breath.
Or even I love you.
I need a moment before I answer.
That's not failure.
That's modeling regulation.
Before you finish.
Take one more look around your space.
Find something that reminds you that you are here.
Today.
In this moment.
And when you are ready.
Bring your attention back to whatever comes next.
You don't have to leave this practice perfectly calm.
You only need to leave with a little more awareness.
A little more space.
And maybe one small choice that wasn't available to you a few minutes ago.
Take care of yourself,
Mama.
You're allowed to come back to yourself too.
